Virus woes continue, Towns tests positive
Another three NBA games were postponed Friday, including one in Minnesota only a couple hours before game time, as the league’s struggle with increasing coronavirus numbers continued.
Among the revelations Friday: Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, whose mother and six other relatives have died from COVID-19, said he has tested positive. The Washington Wizards said that they have six players who are positive as well, and another three players out because contact tracing data suggested they could have been exposed.
“I pray every day that this nightmare of a virus will subside and I beg everyone to take it seriously by taking all of the necessary precautions,” Towns wrote on social media.
The Timberwolves’ game with the Memphis Grizzlies was called off, as were what would have been Wizards’ home games Sunday and Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The current tally of postponements: 13 since the start of the season, 12 of them — involving 16 of the NBA’s 30 teams — since Sunday alone. Washington has seen four of its games pushed back, Boston and Phoenix have had three postponements.
Miami — which lost two games at Philadelphia this week with only eight players
available — could get as many as six of its eight COVID-affected players who have missed time this week, largely because of contact tracing, back today for a game against Detroit. All-Star Jimmy Butler will remain out, the Heat said, as will Avery Bradley.
The Wizards are just hoping to be able to have players in to resume workouts. No basketball has been played in their facility for most of this week; between COVID-related issues, and injuries to Russell Westbrook and Thomas Bryant, Washington has six players available right now.
The Wizards last played Monday, against Phoenix. The earliest they’ll play again is this coming Wednesday in Charlotte — and even that would seem iffy, based on what will likely be a lack of practice time in the coming days. IRVING FINED BY LEAGUE >> The NBA fined Kyrie Irving $50,000 for violating its health and safety protocols, and said he could return to team activities with the Brooklyn Nets today.
The league added that he would be fined for each game he misses during a five-day quarantine period that would end today if he continues to test
negative for the coronavirus.
Irving has missed the last five games while away from the Nets for personal reasons. He was seen in a video on social media during his absence at an indoor family party while not wearing a mask.
BUCKS 112, MAVERICKS 109 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo overcame poor free-throw shooting to score 31 points, Khris Middleton hit two late 3-pointers and Milwaukee won its fourth straight while snapping Dallas’ winning streak at four.
Both teams wasted plenty of opportunities from the foul line. The
Bucks were 12 of 25 on free throws, with Antetokounmpo going 1 of 10 and missing all seven of his fourth-quarter attempts. Dallas was 6 of 13.
Middleton scored 25 points for the Bucks.
Luka Doncic had 28 points and 13 assists for Dallas, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points.
CELTICS 124, MAGIC 97 >> Jaylen Brown had 21 points and eight assists, Semi Ojeleye added 18 points and Boston rolled past visiting Orlando for its fifth consecutive victory.
The Celtics returned to action after having three games postponed due to some players testing positive for the coronavirus and others being ruled out because contact tracing showed that they could have been exposed to it.
Aaron Gordon had 17 points to lead the Magic, who have lost four straight.
CAVALIERS 106, KNICKS 103 >> Andre Drummond tied his career high with 33 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and Cedi Osman scored 25 points in leading Cleveland to victory at home.
Drummond posted the Cavaliers’ first 30-20 game since Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 20 rebounds against Seattle on Jan. 20, 2004. He also had three assists, two blocks and two steals as Cleveland snapped a three-game losing streak.
Julius Randle had 28 points and six assists for New York, which lost its fifthinarow.